A raging inferno tore through the former Debenhams department store on Edinburgh’s Princes Street in the early hours of Thursday, sending thick black smoke billowing across the city centre and forcing the closure of the famous shopping thoroughfare.
The alarm was raised at 2.52am, and within minutes seven fire engines and three specialist appliances were racing to the scene at 109-111 Princes Street, according to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Crews worked through the night to contain the flames, which were seen leaping from the windows of the historic Victorian building.
“Firefighters battled a major blaze at the former Debenhams building on Edinburgh's Princes Street early Thursday; no casualties.”
“It’s such a shame. It’s an iconic building, and it’s such a shame that yet another one’s gone up in flames on Princes Street,” said 59-year-old Graham Reed, a local. “We lost a couple – there was one down in Jenners as well that went up in flames a few years back.”
The fire comes less than three years after a blaze destroyed the former Jenners department store just a stone’s throw away, a tragedy that claimed the life of 38-year-old firefighter Barry Martin.
An Edinburgh worker who witnessed the aftermath described the devastation. “They’ve cordoned off pretty much the whole of Princes Street,” they said. “It’s pretty clear the whole building has been destroyed with ceilings collapsed and windows smashed. Inside the whole building just looks black.”
The building, which was home to Debenhams until the store closed in April 2021 following a ground-floor fire, had been earmarked for conversion into a luxury Zedwell hotel. The UNESCO-protected structure was gutted by the flames.
Police Scotland said road closures were in place and advised drivers and pedestrians to avoid the area. Tram services were disrupted, with Edinburgh Trams running a part route from the airport to the West End only, and ticket acceptance was in place with ScotRail and Lothian Buses. No casualties have been reported.
Firefighters continued to dampen down hotspots and are expected to remain at the scene for some time. The cause of the blaze is not yet known.